Tessa Ying – Where Piano Technique Meets Creative Innovation

Written by Sherman Tham

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Hailing from Brookline, MA, Tessa Ying has dedicated her career to performing, producing, and developing musical talent. While some may think that developing a passion for the arts comes easily, it in fact takes time and effort to nurture and refine. Ying’s imaginative approach to empowering students in their own journey emphasizes strong finger technique, while encouraging experimentation and artistry as a foundation for storytelling. This enables them to enjoy the process as a learning journey, rather than solely focusing on the outcome.

A piano prodigy from the age of four, Ying’s early mastery of the keys was only the beginning of a transformative journey from stage success to visionary education. Today, she has evolved into an innovative educator who looks beyond perfection, prioritizing her students' personal growth and creative discovery. Much like her audience-centered YouTube channel, Ying’s holistic pedagogy drives students to become active participants in their own narratives.

Under Ying’s six years of guidance, her student Alan Huang participated in the Global Genius Music Competition and won the Gold Prize as well as a Technical Mastery Prize in Fall 2024. In the Charleston International Competition, Alan Huang received the Third Prize. Ying herself was awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award and added to the Exceptional Teachers List by WOMCO. Reflecting on her student Alan Huang’s multiple awards, Ying shared her pride, reflecting:

"I was so proud of him. He deserved those prizes after all that hard work and dedication. I also felt honored and humbled as I watched other competitors. It is no small feat to get to that point. But at the end of the day, music, like most things in life, is an opportunity to practice lifelong growth and learning." For Ying, these experiences are also a reminder that learning music is a process beyond competition results, and good relationships between mentor and mentee are at the center of it.

“Working with Tessa is like working with a friend but getting all the work done. I never feel stressed during lessons because she’s such a great teacher/friend, and I also never feel stressed about exams/competition because I know she prepared me well,” says Alan Huang.

“I am 100% going to say that without her there’s no way I’d get those awards. I feel like Tessa is a kind of teacher who knows you more than you do. She would make sure it’s a song that can showcase your potential/what you’re good at but also a song you’ll fall in love with.”

Ying's journey is as uniquely diverse as the genres she masterfully embraces, having trained at elite institutions across Singapore, England, and the USA. This global exposure has shaped her perspective on music.

“The bits of experience from each environment build you as a person and musician," Ying says with conviction, crediting Singapore's rigorous education system for instilling discipline and drive. Those experiences solidified her purpose in sharing her love of music and empowering others.

“Years of training for the examinations helped me to gain technical mastery over the instrument precision, accuracy, musicality, and articulation. By the time I entered Berklee College of Music, I was well equipped to accept what they had to offer. Most importantly, I found purpose in sharing my love of music, and that came through not only in a practical, real-life workplace but also in how to appreciate and apply it in everyday life too.”

Ying prepares students for those very same examinations by the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, headquartered in London, UK. As one of the five boards accredited by Ofqual in England, the examinations meet rigorous standards, providing students with recognized qualifications and UCAS points for higher education in the United Kingdom. Approximately 90% of Ying’s students achieve distinctions in both the performance and theory exams.

Beyond the classroom, Ying extends her reach into professional artistic collaborations. In 2025, she worked with pianist Chia Ying Lee (Boston International Piano Competition, Semifinalist) to produce high-quality video and audio recordings for major competitions and festivals. Drawing on her background in music production, Ying oversaw the recording of the live performance featuring Chia Ying Lee and pianist Carl Di Casoli (2025 Oberlin Competition second-place winner), whose program included works by Saint-Saëns, Bach, Liszt, Ravel, and Rachmaninoff. The recordings contributed to Chia Ying Lee’s successful entrance into music festivals and competitions, notably the Oberlin Competition.

When producing a recording for professional competition materials, preserving the player’s clarity and artistic sensitivity is expected. In this case, that includes balancing the acoustic nuances of two pianos while navigating the ambiance of a live audience. Ying’s production work combined technical precision and musicality, allowing the performers to direct their full attention to the music.

“My goal is to preserve the performance as much as possible. It’s so much more than just recording sound. It’s about blending performance, production and collaboration.”

Ying’s teaching philosophy balances high standards with a nurturing environment, fueled by the belief that music flourishes when all elements work in tandem with each other. Her refusal to be confined to a single genre, spanning classical, contemporary, and even EDM, underscores her conviction in music's inherent interconnectedness. Ying asserts, "These different genres complement, rather than fight against, each other."

While she concedes to feeling early pressure to fit into one category, she champions the idea that similarities across genres inspire and give birth to new ideas. Ying’s next project, AfterGlow, reflects her philosophy. She reveals that although it is an electronic, downtempo piece, it blends the piano keys with soundscapes of electronic beats.

“When we produce a body of work, it is from the inspiration we feel from one another, and in that a new and beautiful form of art is born. What about instead of focusing on what is different, what about the “sameness”? About common traits? To me, no matter what the specialty, they fundamentally affect us the same way. Human expression, through the medium of sound, that connects us emotionally to each other’s internal state.”

At the very core of Ying’s educational philosophy lies an unwavering conviction that true musicality does not come from rigid rote learning, but from a consistent, engaged, and enthusiastic learning process. She recognizes the pressures that students today face, moving beyond traditional methods to create an environment where young musicians flourish. Understanding that a bespoke musical journey strengthens her students’ creativity and enriches their learning experience, she encourages her students to explore music they genuinely love. In doing so, they cultivate a discerning ear and discover their own artistic voice.

Ying explains, with refreshing candor, "It really depends on the student and their relationship with music outside lessons. I encourage students to bring in the songs that they know and love, maybe they heard something on the radio? Or watched a movie with a great soundtrack? Or a trending TikTok?”

Ying’s commitment to the growing arts and learning scene is evinced through her involvement with Arts for Learning Massachusetts, a non-profit organization that works directly with underserved communities to provide arts education and, more importantly, to serve schools from underserved and underprivileged areas as a means to make the arts accessible. Their mission is unambiguous and vital, “We strive to make the arts accessible, and to give equal opportunities to students to thrive in the arts.”

Ying shares candidly that the overwhelming response from the cohort of students each year implies the need for such ground-up initiatives. Serving as Music Director, Ying prepared a cast of over 30 young performers through weekly rehearsals, vocal coaching and music interpretation. Her multidisciplinary background proved instrumental as she guided students through vocal coaching, music interpretation and stage performance. The community project, held in Spring 2026, was the hit Disney musical Finding Nemo. This highlighted Ying’s technical expertise, following the previous year’s success of the musical Aladdin.

Ying’s approach to cultivating well-rounded musicians culminates in events that redefine the very concept of a traditional concert. The Art of Piano, held in Spring 2026 at M. Steinert & Sons, New England’s premier Steinway dealership, was not merely a performance. It was a celebration of musical expression, showcasing the diverse styles and creativity fostered under Ying’s guidance.

“The production was named The Art of Piano, to signify the artistry that goes along with the technical aspects of piano playing," explains Ying. Featuring two back-to-back showcases with 24 talented performers, the program reflected Ying’s multi-genre philosophy, encompassing music from classical masterpieces by Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin to contemporary hits from Studio Ghibli. The production also included well-known musical works such as Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush), Harry Potter Soundtrack (John Williams), and Golden (KPop Demon Hunters).

M.Steinert & Sons, with a 150-year legacy and longstanding relationship with Steinway, provided the opportunity to play on a 7-foot Steinway Spirio. For many, the experience not only elevated their performance but also their appreciation for its rich, enduring musical heritage. Beyond the music itself, the recital was a powerful demonstration of hard work, dedication, and a sense of community. Their shared love for music was evident, often helping musicians conquer the challenges of performance anxiety.

One of Ying’s music students, Meghna Chakrabarti, who was both a parent of a performer and a performer herself at The Art of Piano, describes what it is like to work with Ying.

“Miss Tessa has a gift. She reads each of her students with insight and sensitivity, and intuitively creates unique methods to fit each person. My son likes to play fast. He noodles around on the keys. If he’s not immediately engaged, his attention can wander. Tessa effortlessly turns his lessons into improv sessions, musical races, and tackling pieces with big sound. She’s raised his skill profoundly. As an adult learner, I can be slow, plodding, and repetitive! But with patience and encouragement, she makes our lessons productive every time. I’ve never encountered a musical educator like her. We’re devoted to her and would take lessons from her no matter where on Earth she is.”

Ying concludes, "My favorite part was how inspired the musicians get from watching one another’s performances, and how much they learn from each other. Many times, a musician will request to learn a piece that they heard another performer play, and how inspired they are because of their discovery of new music that they love."